Question:medium

Which one of the following is considered important in the development of seed habit?

Updated On: Jun 13, 2026
  • Homospory
  • Heterospory
  • Dependent sporophyte
  • Free living gametophyte
Show Solution

The Correct Option is B

Solution and Explanation

The question asks about an important factor in the development of the seed habit in plants. Let's examine each of the provided options to understand which one is crucial and why.

  1. Homospory: Homospory refers to the production of spores of the same type, without differentiation into male and female types. In such plants, the spores develop into bisexual gametophytes which cannot effectively develop seeds. Thus, this option is not relevant to seed habit development.
  2. Heterospory: Heterospory is the production of two distinct types of spores, microspores (male) and megaspores (female). This separation is crucial as it leads to the development of separate male and female gametophytes, which in turn facilitates fertilization and the subsequent development of seeds. This characteristic is considered a major evolutionary step towards the seed habit. Therefore, Heterospory is the correct answer.
  3. Dependent\ Sporophyte: In plants with a dependent sporophyte, the sporophyte stage relies on the gametophyte for nutrients, indicating a more primitive lifecycle, typically seen in non-seed plants like mosses and liverworts. This dependency is not conducive to the development of a seed habit.
  4. Free\ living\ Gametophyte: In species where the gametophyte is independent and free-living, it often indicates a lack of specialization necessary for seed development. Such plants typically do not undergo the changes necessary to support seed production.

Therefore, the most critical factor among the given options for the development of the seed habit is Heterospory. This process is pivotal for the evolution of seed plants because it leads to the formation of differentiated gametophytes, laying the groundwork for seed formation and the benefits associated with seeds, such as protection and nutritive support for the developing embryo.

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